Our Promise - A Once-ler X OC fanfiction

Chapter VI - Maya's confession

"You've had a bad fall, you should sit down."


In the tent, the Once-ler pointed to the chair in front of his work desk and helped Maya to sit down on it. The young woman was limping a little, the pain was still very sharp in her knees but also in one of her ankles.
"You may have a sprain... he thought.
- Missed, it is a strain, she corrected. I need only ice and rest, it will be better in a few days. "
Faced with the certainty of the florist, the young man sketched a brief smile. To be more credible, she explained that she could still put the heel on the ground without feeling additional pain. She would not have been able to do so if it was a sprain.
"I don't have any ice, but I do have tea and a fire to warm us up, offered the Once-ler.
- Gladly!"
While her host prepared tea, Maya took the time to observe the interior of what was his living quarters. It wasn't a very large place, but it was perfect for one person. The spaces, although together, were quite well delimited, with a kitchen corner, a work corner and a sleeping corner, which was still missing the bed.
The young woman observed the tools on her right, they seemed to be homemade because some were simply unknown to her. On her left, there was a drawing table, often used by architects. On it were some plans, of which, in truth, she could not see much. She knew that something was drawn on it, but the lines blended too much with the color of the paper...
"I'm sorry about what happened, she said, turning back to the Once-ler.
- Don't be, he assured her. We're safe and sound. I'd like to know what you were doing on my bed, though."
He gave her a cup of tea, warning that it was very hot. With prudence, the brunette took the cup by the handle and thanked him. The steam escaping from the drink was already soothing her. The man took a chair on which was a cloth and he settled down near Maya, also with a cup of tea in the hand.
"Would you rather have the same fate as your bed? She asked with a smirk.
- Now that you mention it..."
The two young adults giggled. Maya felt a little nervous, and took a sip of her tea.
"I guess... she began. That I owe you an explanation for... my behavior on the approach to the cliff...
- Well... you were scared and that's perfectly normal, he said. I was scared, too.
- But you tried to save yourself. I couldn't do anything, I was... paralyzed..."
Once-ler did not want to force her. She seemed so nervous, so saddened by her thoughts about the cliff. He suspected that something must have happened. Something more or less serious. The young woman let out a short sigh and leaned back in her chair.
"It was a little over a year ago, she began. I had an accident... with my sister, Alya..."
Without saying a word, the inventor listened to the botanist who, without saying too much, told this episode of her past, her eyes riveted on her hot drink, as if she was reliving her story.
"It was the middle of the night and we were in the Valley. We had... an altercation with a stranger. A violent altercation. But he was stronger than we were, and very quickly he had pushed my sister into the river. I did not hesitate. I wanted to save her so I dove in and swam to her. The water was the coldest..."
A shiver ran down her spine just thinking about it. Once-ler looked down, understanding why Maya had acted the way she did when they first met. They both took a sip of their tea, and she continued:
"We both fell off the cliff and lost consciousness. When I woke up, I was in the hospital and... (she looked at the Once-ler) I lost my color vision.
- Color vision? he asked, surprised.
- Yes. I see life in shades of gray since that day. The doctors say that one day, maybe, I will get my color vision back. They think it's post-traumatic or due to the fall."
Maya briefly explained that because of this, it was dangerous for her to walk in the street in the middle of the night if the lights are off, she was unable to read some texts, and her eyesight had slightly decreased, she saw a little blurry...
"But you've already seen them, so you know what the colors look like? He dared to ask out of curiosity.
- I'll be honest, I forgot what they look like. I've been so used to not seeing them anymore... The only one I know is gray."
The man thought back to the flowers he had seen in the store. He felt sad for Maya, thinking that she couldn't appreciate the beauty of these plants. In a whisper, she admitted that she hoped one day to see the colors again. 

At the same time, the Lorax and the animals arrived with the Once-ler's bed. They passed it by the window and the two young adults took it in and put it back in its place.

"Well, I'll..."

Maya considered going home but a detail came to mind. She brought a hand to her forehead, feeling foolish.

"I forgot my keys, she sighed. I come to rescue you and I forget my keys, but how good I am.

- Very good, added the young man with a smile.
- I won't let you add to that, Mr. I-Wear-Pyjamas-With... Bunnies?"
The two youngsters teased each other and laughed together.
"You can sleep here, offered the Once-ler.
- Like, in the same room as you?" asked Maya with wide eyes.
He pretended to look around, then looked at her with a raised eyebrow, as if the answer was obvious. The florist laid her gaze on the bed, understood, and began to blush.
"Oh...
- I think there's a way we can fit two in the bed, he said.
- But I can't sleep in the-!
- You saved me from the cliff so I'm going to save you from spending a freezing night outside."

He was dead serious. She didn't know what to make of it. It was weird, just to think about it. But she knew it was going to be hard to get him to change his mind. She gave in, but she had to make a phone call, knowing she hadn't brought her phone with her. The young man lent her his while he prepared the bed. 

"Hello? Flora's foggy voice said.
- It's Maya.

- Maya - What's wrong with you, do you have any idea what time it is?
!
- I- no, but I need a little favor...
- Actually it's almost 1 AM..." intervened Once-ler.
The young woman ran a hand over her face. Not because it was one o'clock in the morning, but because inevitably...
"Am I dreaming or did I just hear your Beanpole? Flora asked, suddenly full of energy.
-You're having a bad dream, Flora... her friend ironically said.
- Okay, okay... what's your service?"
The botanist quickly explained that she would need clean clothes and ice for the next morning. Without really asking any more questions, her colleague agreed.
"I'm going to go back and have that bad dream, I hope you don't do too much mess there... if you know what I mean.
- Flora-"
But her friend hung up. Maya sighed and gave the phone back to the Once-ler, who put it away, then went to lie down in bed. Shyly, the young woman came to his side and got under the covers. 
Both wished each other good night. Maya fell asleep quickly, but Once-ler stayed awake, looking at her. His thoughts were haunted by her. He thought again of the story she told him. He wondered why, despite her fear, she had wanted to save him. He also wondered what had happened to her sister, Alya, after the fall.
After several minutes, Maya came closer, and her head rested on the shoulder of the young man, who smiled briefly, and fell asleep as well.
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Author's Note

The Chapter VI is finally here! I hope you enjoy it!

So here, I'd like to say that I'm not sure at all for the words "Sprain" and "Strain", those are words I've never used before and in French they are very different to each other, so it can got me confused in English. If I made a mistake, feel free to correct me :)

So... Maya told Once-ler about an incident in the Valley... and the consequences it has on her. She has achromatic vision. I don't have this kind of vision myself, I used as many informations I could find so it may not represent the reality. 

It's also the first time she mention her sister in front of him. Not too much, but she did.

The "Chapter VII - The Thneed" is coming soon...